Visual system for, and method of, displaying graphics and alphanumeric information

• US 6,213,394 B1
• Filed: 06/14/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Industrial Electronic Engineers Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Industrial Electronic Engineers Incorporated
• Inventors: Hatch, Larry D., Wu, Koashin, Schumacher, Erick P., Freiberg, Robert J., Quitt, Kevin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/332,834
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/462.43, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A visual (e.g. liquid crystal) screen displays a sequence of graphics presentations and a specific event. The graphics sequence (e.g. visual representations of products in a market) has a display priority except when the specific event occurs. The specific event may be in graphics or alphanumeric form and related or unrelated to the graphics sequence. When the specific event has been displayed, the graphics sequence has priority again. In one embodiment, the specific event may be products identified and priced at a checkout counter by a bar code scanner or a keyboard. This information is processed alphanumerically. The processed information is displayed on the screen until the transaction completion (e.g. total purchase price is displayed). After a designated (e.g. 30 seconds) time following the purchase price display, the sequence of graphics presentations resumes display priority. In a second embodiment, the display screen is integrated with a bar code scanner in a housing and is displaced from the checkout counter to advertise a graphics sequence of product promotions in the market and also to provide price information requested by the customer. The display screen also provides a priority to the graphics sequence when there is no interaction with the customer. When the customer desires to price an item, the customer places the item at the scanner window. The scanned alphanumeric information is processed and the processed information (e.g. product description and price) is displayed alphanumerically for the designated time. The graphics sequence thereafter resumes priority unless another item is scanned within the designated time.

Claims

1. In combination,

a visual display screen constructed to provide graphics and alphanumeric displays,

a first system displaced from the display screen and constructed to activate the visual display screen to provide a display of a specific item,

a second system displaced from the display screen and constructed to activate the visual display screen to provide a sequence of graphics presentations,

first controls for providing priority to the activation of the visual display screen by the second system relative to the activation of the screen by the first system,

second controls operative to de-activate the priority of the second system and to activate the first system for the presentation of the specific item on the visual display screen upon the occurrence of the specific item, and

third controls for activating the visual display screen again to display the sequence of graphics presentations after the presentation of the specific item on the visual display screen.

2. In a combination as set forth with claim 1 wherein the first system provides for the display on a sequential basis of graphics advertisements of different items and wherein the second system provides an identification of the specific item and parameters individual to the specific item.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second controls are selected from a group consisting of a bar code scanner and a keyboard and wherein a processor responsive to an operation of a selected one of the bar code scanner and the keyboard introduces to the visual display screen signals specifying the specific item and the parameters individual to the specific item.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second controls include a bar code scanner for identifying a bar code presented by the specific item to the bar code scanner and wherein a processor is responsive to the bar code from the bar code scanner for producing signals identifying the specific item and the parameters individual to the specific item and wherein the visual display screen is responsive to the signals from the processor for visually identifying the specific item and the parameters individual to the specific item.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the visual display screen continues to provide the priority to the first system when the first system provides a second specific item within a particular time after the first system provides the first specific item and wherein the visual display screen provides the priority to the second system when the first system thereafter fails to provide a second specific item within the particular time after the first system provides the first specific item.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second controls include a bar code scanner for identifying the specific item'"'"'s bar code presented to the bar code scanner and include a keyboard for identifying the specific item in accordance with an operation of keys on the keyboard and wherein a processor is responsive to one of the bar code from the bar code scanner and the operation of the keys on the keyboard for producing signals identifying the specific item and the parameters of the specific item and wherein the visual display screen is responsive to the signals from the processor for visually providing an identification of the specific item and the parameters of the item.

7. In a combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein

the specific item is a product in the market and the parameters include an indication of the price of the item and the visual identification of the item and the price of the item are alphanumeric and wherein

the sequence of graphics presentations provides a graphics sequence of advertisements and promotions of products in the market.

8. In combination,

a support member,

a visual display screen disposed on the support member and constructed to display alphanumeric information and graphical information,

a member displaced from the display screen and constructed to identify a specific item and parameters concerning the specific item,

a processor displaced from the display screen and constructed to receive the identification of the specific item and the parameters and to provide to the visual display screen the identification of the item and the parameters of the item for visual display by the display screen,

the visual display screen also being constructed to provide a sequence of graphics presentations, and

a priority encoder for normally providing a priority on the visual screen to the sequence of graphics presentations and responsive to the information from the processor for providing on the visual display screen a visual display identifying the specific item and the parameters of the specific item on a priority basis over the sequence of the graphics presentations.

9. In a combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the identification member is disposed in a housing with the visual display screen and wherein the processor is a first processor and is displaced from the visual display screen and wherein the visual display screen includes a second processor responsive to the information from the first processor for displaying the information representing the specific item, and the parameters of the specific item, on the display screen.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the specific item has a bar code and wherein the identification member is a bar code scanner and wherein the bar code scanner and the visual display screen are disposed at a checkout counter and wherein a manually operated keyboard is disposed at the checkout counter for identifying the specific item, and the parameters of the specific item, in accordance with a selective one of the manual operation of the keyboard and the scanning of the specific item'"'"'s bar code by the bar code scanner and for passing this identification to the processor and wherein the processor processes the information from the selective one of the manually operated keyboard and the bar code scanner to identify the specific item and the parameters of the specific item and provides the processed information to the visual display screen for display on the screen.

11. In a combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein the support member and the visual display screen are disposed at a first counter and wherein the bar code scanner is disposed at the first counter.

12. In a combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein the priority encoder provides for the display by the visual display screen of information relating to the specific item for a particular time after the last display of information by the display screen relating to the specific item and then provides for the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations by the visual display screen after the particular time if no additional information relating to another specific item has been provided to the visual display screen during the particular time.

13. In a combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein the specific item is a list of product purchases being made by a customer and the prices of such products and wherein the priority encoder provides, upon a display on the visual display screen of one of the products being purchased by the customer and the price of such product, for the continued display by the visual display screen of information relating to all of the other products being purchased by the customer and the prices of such products and for the display of the total cost of such products and then provides for the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations by the visual display screen.

14. In a combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein

the specific item and the parameters of the specific event are provided on the visual display screen in either alphanumeric or graphics form.

20. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the specific item is provided on an alphanumeric basis by a selected one of a bar code scanner and a keyboard and wherein the alphanumeric information generated by the selected one of the bar code scanner and the keyboard is transmitted by the keyboard to a processor and wherein the processor processes the alphanumeric information from the selected one of the keyboard and the bar code scanner and sends the processed alphanumeric information from the bar code scanner to the keyboard when the information is provided by the bar code scanner and wherein the keyboard provides for the display of the alphanumeric information by the visual display screen.

15. A method of providing a visual display of graphics and alphanumeric information, including the steps of:

disposing on a support member a visual display screen constructed to display graphics information and alphanumeric information,

providing for a display on the display screen of a sequence of graphics presentations from a position displaced from the display screen,

providing for a display on the visual display screen of a specific item from a position displaced from the display screen, in an individual one of the graphics form or the alphanumeric form depending upon the specific item,

providing for a priority in the display of the sequence of graphics presentations on the visual display screen,

overcoming the priority to provide for the display of the specific item on the visual display screen when the specific item is presented to the visual display screen, and

providing for the display again of the sequence of graphics presentations on the visual display screen on a priority basis after the display of the specific item has been presented to the display screen.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the sequence of the graphics presentations is continually presented to the visual display screen for display by the visual display screen and wherein the specific item is intermittently presented to the visual display screen for display by the visual display screen and wherein the specific item is provided priority over the sequence of the graphics presentations for display on the visual display screen when the specific item is intermittently presented to the visual display screen for display by the visual display screen.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the specific item may or may not be related to the sequence of graphics presentations and wherein the sequence of graphics presentations is provided again on a priority basis to the visual display screen for display on the display screen after the specific item has been presented for display on the video display screen.

18. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the specific item is provided by a selection and operation of one of a bar code scanner and a keyboard and wherein a processor is responsive to the specific item provided by the selected and operated one of the bar code scanner and the keyboard to provide alphanumeric information to the visual display screen in a form for visual display on the visual display screen.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the bar code scanner is disposed at a selective one of a checkout counter in a market and at a housing for the visual display screen at a position removed from the checkout counter and wherein the specific item is a list of items being purchased by a customer and wherein the list of items processed provide an alphanumeric identification of the items and the price of the items and a total cost of the items when the bar code scanner is at the checkout counter and wherein the specific item is a single item when the visual display screen is disposed at the housing displaced from the checkout counter.

21. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the specific item constitutes products being purchased by a customer and wherein the products are processed to provide alphanumeric information identifying the products and the prices of the products and wherein the specific item includes the total cost in alphanumeric form of the products being purchased by the customer, and wherein the priority in the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations is overcome during the time that the alphanumeric information is generated for the products being purchased by the customer.

22. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein alphanumeric information is provided by a bar code scanner disposed on the visual display screen and wherein the alphanumeric information is provided relating to an item scanned by the bar code scanner and wherein the alphanumeric information from the bar code scanner is transmitted to a processor for processing by the processor and wherein the processed alphanumeric information is transmitted by the processor to the visual display screen for visual display on the visual display screen.

23. A method as set forth in claim 22 wherein the priority in the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations on the visual display screen is overcome for a particular period of time after the alphanumeric information is provided by the bar code scanner to the processor and wherein the alphanumeric information is displayed on the visual display screen during the particular period of time and wherein the priority in the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations is resumed after the particular period of time unless alphanumeric information is provided before the end of the particular period of time relating to another item scanned by the bar code scanner.

24. A method of presenting a visual display to a customer in a market of graphics and alphanumeric information, including the steps of:

disposing a visual display screen to provide for the presentation of the visual display to the customer,

providing for a presentation to the visual display screen from a position displaced from the visual display screen of graphics information representing advertisements and promotions of products for sale in the market,

providing for a presentation to the visual display screen from a position displaced from the display screen of alphanumeric information identifying specific products in the market and the prices of such products,

providing for the presentation of the alphanumeric information to the visual display screen in accordance with the operation of a selective one of a bar code scanner and a keyboard,

providing for the display on the display screen, in accordance with the operation of the selective one of the bar code scanner and the keyboard, of the alphanumeric information presented to the visual display screen and otherwise providing for the display of the graphics information on the visual display screen, and

providing a particular time for a transition from the display of the alphanumeric information on the visual display screen to the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations on the visual display screen.

25. A method as set forth in claim 24 including the step of:

when the alphanumeric information is provided of products being purchased by the customer, providing for the continued display of the alphanumeric information on the display screen until the products and the prices of the products have been displayed and the prices of the products have been totaled, and thereafter providing for the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations on the visual display screen.

26. A method as set forth in claim 24, including the step of:

when the alphanumeric information is provided by the operation of the bar code scanner relating to products being contemplated for purchase by the customer, providing for the continued display of the alphanumeric information on the display screen for a particular period of time after the operation of the bar code scanner, and thereafter providing for the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations on the visual display screen unless the alphanumeric information for another product has been presented to the display screen during the particular period of time.

27. A method as set forth in claim 25 wherein a processor is provided for processing the alphanumeric information generated by the selective one of the bar code scanner and the keyboard and for introducing the processed alphanumeric information to the visual display screen for display by the visual display screen.

28. A method as set forth in claim 25 wherein when the bar code scanner and the keyboard are provided at a checkout counter, wherein the alphanumeric information generated by the bar code scanner and the keyboard are transmitted by the keyboard to the processor for processing by the processor and wherein the processor transmits the processed alphanumeric information through the keyboard to the visual display screen for visual display on the visual display screen.

29. A method of providing a visual display, including the steps of:

providing a visual display screen constructed to display graphics information and alphanumeric information,

providing for a display from a position displaced from the display screen of a sequence of graphics presentation on the visual display screen,

providing a specific item from a position displaced from the display screen,

providing for a display of the specific item on the visual display screen,

providing a priority for the display of the specific item on the visual display screen relative to the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations,

maintaining the priority, for a particular period of time after the provision of the specific item, in the display of the specific item on the visual display screen relative to the display of the sequence of the graphics presentations, and

providing for the display of the sequence of graphics presentations on the visual display screen after the particular period of time unless another specific item is presented for display in the visual display screen before the end of the particular period of time.

30. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein the specific item is related to the sequence of the graphics presentations.

31. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein the specific item is unrelated to the sequence of the graphics presentations.

32. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein the display of the specific item on the visual display screen is alphanumeric.

33. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein the display of the specific item on the visual display screen is in graphics form.

34. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein the specific item is a single item that a customer in a market is interested in purchasing.

35. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein

the specific item comprises a plurality of items that a customer is purchasing in a market.

36. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein

the sequence of the graphical presentations comprises a sequence of advertisements and promotions of products in a market and wherein the specific item comprises an alphanumeric identification of a particular product, and the price of the particular product, that a customer is interested in purchasing in the market.

37. A method as set forth in claim 29 wherein

the sequence of graphical presentations comprises a sequence of advertisements and promotions of products in a market and wherein the specific item comprises an alphanumeric identification of a list of products, and the prices of the products, being purchased by the customer in the market and the total price of the products being purchased by the customer.